Help with conditional text

a1runnr · General User Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 17

Howdy

I am trying to find a way to create a prefix to names in a form letter. And have not had much luck as yet. Any pointers would be appreciated.

I am using 2.0.3 in XP, using base as the data source.

If the record type is F, prefix should be Ms. followed by the lastname.
If the record type is M, prefix should be Mr. followed by the lastname.
If the record type is D, prefix should be Dr. "
If the record type is H, prefix should be Honor "
If the record type is "", prefix should be null "
etc for other record types.

Thanks in advance for suggestions.
tommy

acknak · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:39 pm Post subject:

a1runnr · General User Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 17

Oh nuts, I was afraid of that being the case.

Thanks
tomy

JohnV · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:06 pm Post subject:

I think acknak is on the right trail but I believe in a single paragraph you could use 4 Hidden Text fields, one after the other, to get the desired result. The null item would be the result of the 4 other fields.

It's late so I have not tried this but part of the Hidden Text will probably be a space after the title. As in "<Title+Space><LastName>" because you don't want a null item preceded by a space.

foxcole · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:43 am Post subject:

a1runnr · General User Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 17

I think the easier process would be to look directly at the base record and then act accordingly. I have that working in several other areas I'm playing with.

tomy

acknak · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 7:41 am Post subject:

Another approach, which is the way I try to go, is to do this in the database. Either convert to a "Prefix" or "Title" field (I.e. change the code letters to the actual title string), or set up a view that converts the codes to a string using another table. I think it seems cleaner to do your merge using simple fields (possibly from a complex query) rather than building a lot of "intelligence" into the merge document. Any of that processing you can do at the database level will be usable by anything that touches the database. The work you do in the merge document will have to be repeated if you need it again.

PS: Before you run off and try this, there are some reported problems doing conditional fields from queries or views (as opposed to direct to a table). I expect it will be fixed soon, but better do a small test first.

JohnV · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:48 am Post subject:

foxcole,

It's no longer late at night so I tried what I suggested and it worked fine.

I used the Bibliography/biblio table where I temporarily put F,M,D or H in 4 of the records under the Type field. In my document, between "Dear"<a space> & <Identifer> I insert 4 consecutive Hidden Text fields with Conditions like Bibliogrphy.biblio.Type NEQ "F" with the Hidden texts like "Ms. " (note the space).[/code]

a1runnr · General User Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 17

Yep - I agree with the adding of another table with those prefix and do a hidden pp. That works for me. Thanks.

Oh, now that is interesting :: I will have to try the four conditions as you have found that works. I did not try that as I would of thought the next condition would of over rode the previous test. I guess logic is not my strong area Confused

Thanks Yall. I will play and learn.
tomy

JohnV · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:09 am Post subject:

a1runnr,

Note that I'm using a Hidden Text field which is not an If,Then, Else type as is Conditional Text so the conditions do not "step" on one another.

a1runnr · General User Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 17

JohnV

Oh, so using that process - each test is standsalone. Thanks for the pointer, This should be easy to do.

Thanks
tomy

foxcole · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:31 pm Post subject:

a1runnr · General User Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 17

Thanks for the help.

tomy